diff --git a/api/models/workflow.py b/api/models/workflow.py
index a0f3a9990a..28b661670e 100644
--- a/api/models/workflow.py
+++ b/api/models/workflow.py
@@ -7,8 +7,11 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Optional, Union
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 from flask_login import current_user
+from sqlalchemy import orm
 
+from core.file.models import File
 from core.variables import utils as variable_utils
+from core.variables.segments import ArrayFileSegment, FileSegment
 from core.workflow.constants import CONVERSATION_VARIABLE_NODE_ID, SYSTEM_VARIABLE_NODE_ID
 from factories.variable_factory import build_segment
 
@@ -874,6 +877,8 @@ class WorkflowDraftVariable(Base):
 
     __tablename__ = "workflow_draft_variables"
     __table_args__ = (UniqueConstraint(*unique_app_id_node_id_name()),)
+    # Required for instance variable annotation.
+    __allow_unmapped__ = True
 
     # id is the unique identifier of a draft variable.
     id: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(StringUUID, primary_key=True, server_default=db.text("uuid_generate_v4()"))
@@ -939,6 +944,36 @@ class WorkflowDraftVariable(Base):
     visible: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(sa.Boolean, nullable=False, default=True)
     editable: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(sa.Boolean, nullable=False, default=False)
 
+    # Cache for deserialized value
+    #
+    # NOTE(QuantumGhost): This field serves two purposes:
+    #
+    # 1. Caches deserialized values to reduce repeated parsing costs
+    # 2. Allows modification of the deserialized value after retrieval,
+    #    particularly important for `File`` variables which require database
+    #    lookups to obtain storage_key and other metadata
+    #
+    # Use double underscore prefix for better encapsulation,
+    # making this attribute harder to access from outside the class.
+    __value: Segment | None
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """
+        The constructor of `WorkflowDraftVariable` is not intended for
+        direct use outside this file. Its solo purpose is setup private state
+        used by the model instance.
+
+        Please use the factory methods
+        (`new_conversation_variable`, `new_sys_variable`, `new_node_variable`)
+        defined below to create instances of this class.
+        """
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.__value = None
+
+    @orm.reconstructor
+    def _init_on_load(self):
+        self.__value = None
+
     def get_selector(self) -> list[str]:
         selector = json.loads(self.selector)
         if not isinstance(selector, list):
@@ -953,8 +988,39 @@ class WorkflowDraftVariable(Base):
     def _set_selector(self, value: list[str]):
         self.selector = json.dumps(value)
 
+    def _loads_value(self) -> Segment:
+        value = json.loads(self.value)
+        value_type = self.value_type
+        if value_type == SegmentType.FILE:
+            file = File.model_validate(value)
+            return FileSegment(value=file)
+        elif value_type == SegmentType.ARRAY_FILE:
+            files = [File.model_validate(i) for i in value]
+            return ArrayFileSegment(value=files)
+        else:
+            return build_segment(value)
+
     def get_value(self) -> Segment:
-        return build_segment(json.loads(self.value))
+        """Decode the serialized value into its corresponding `Segment` object.
+
+        This method caches the result, so repeated calls will return the same
+        object instance without re-parsing the serialized data.
+
+        If you need to modify the returned `Segment`, use `value.model_copy()`
+        to create a copy first to avoid affecting the cached instance.
+
+        For more information about the caching mechanism, see the documentation
+        of the `__value` field.
+
+        Returns:
+            Segment: The deserialized value as a Segment object.
+        """
+
+        if self.__value is not None:
+            return self.__value
+        value = self._loads_value()
+        self.__value = value
+        return value
 
     def set_name(self, name: str):
         self.name = name